This Hogan model was introduced in 1951 for sale through retail stores to target the growth of new golfers flocking to municipal and suburban courses in the post-war period.

These rare left handed woods were manufactured in small production lots and were created with the same materials, tools and crafting processes as Macgregor’s professional models. It was necessary for retail clubs to be visibly different from the product lines sold through proshop distribution. Differentiation inspired developers to innovate and experiment with new technologies and production efficiencies. The plastic whipping collars for this set provide tangible evidence of this.

After careful examination; I find this sets mirrored likeness to the historical 693 model to be quite striking. They cause for me to wonder if Mr. Hogan, a natural left-hander who began playing the game from that side of the ball, provided critical input into the development of these fine instruments, which prominently feature his signature.

The shafts in this project are loose. Although the club heads appear to be tight, their vintage glue bonding has lost its grab. The club heads and shafts are only held in place with an original back-pin through the hosel and lock-screw within the soles tip section.

To make these woods solid and playable again, the shafts must be extracted and then reset securly.

Identifying signs of a loose shaft

Typically, there are visible signs of a shaft being loose, such as a separation, or gap between the shaft ferrule and top of the hosel. Often, you may see the whipping thread receding into this gap, or in a loose state. With a bore through sole, you may detect a surface angle, or level difference between the shaft tip and sole area surrounding it.

Certainly there can be a feel aspect for detecting shaft looseness, if visible signs are not apparent. You can clamp the shaft securely into a vice, then hold the head with both hands and turn the club head gently from side-to-side to detect movement.